Faculty Experts - Thomas Toppino, Ph.D.

Thomas Toppino, Ph.D.Chairperson; Professor of Psychology
Department of Psychology
Villanova University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Area of Expertise:

Practice in Learning and Memory

Visual Perception of Reversible Ambiguous Figures

Summary

Exploring the many methods by which we learn and remember has been the focus of Dr. Toppino's long and distinguished career. Another area of specialty is the study of reversible ambiguous figures, visual patterns that create an optical illusion by causing a viewer's perception to alternate spontaneously between two markedly different interpretations. Research in this area promotes greater understanding of how external stimuli are organized and processed cognitively to create meaning.

Selected Research

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Grant HD 28751, 1991-1992.

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Grant HD 21209, 1987-1991.

National Institute of Mental Health Grant MH38197, 1984-85.

Villanova Faculty Research Grants, 1993, 1985, 1981, 1977.

About Villanova

Since 1842, Villanova University’s Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges – the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. As students grow intellectually, Villanova prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them.

About Villanova

Villanova University was founded in 1842 by the Order of St. Augustine. To this day, Villanova’s Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition is the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University’s six colleges.